Lever operated chain link puller



June 14, 1955 E. M. SELZLER EFAL 2,710,520

LEVER OPERATED CHAIN LINK FULLER Filed Nov. 30, 1951 IN VENTOR 50 MWM55424 EH United States Patent LEVER OPERATED CHAIN LINK PULLER Edwin M.Selzler and Ray D. Miles, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; said Selzlerassignor to said Miles Application November 30, 1951, Serial No. 259,064

2 Claims. (Cl. 59--7) This invention relates to implements for repairingchains, and more particularly to a device for separating the links ofchains of the type having rectangular links.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved linkseparating device for separating the links of chains of the type havingrectangular links, said device being simple in construction, being easyto use, and enabling rectangular links to be separated with a smallamount of effort and in a short time.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved link pullingdevice for use in separating rectangular links, said device involvinginexpensive components, being rugged in construction, being easy tomanipulate, and allowing repairs of chains to be made in a speedy andefficient manner.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top view of an improved link pulling device constructed inaccordance with the present invention, shown engaged with a chain andarranged for separating the links thereof.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front end elevational view of the link pulling device ofFigures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the link pulling device of Figures 1,2 and 3, showing the device near the final position thereof in theprocess of separating a pair of adjacent links of a chain.

Referring to the drawings, the link pulling device is designatedgenerally at 11 and comprises a main bar member 12 consisting of a stripof flat bar stock formed with a U-bend at 13 and formed with arightangled bend adjacent one end thereof, at 14, defining a transverseabutment element 15 which engages and is rigidly secured to, as bywelding or the like, the opposing side of the metal strip 12. The abovedescribed structure thus defines two arms 16 and 17 with the U-bend 13defining the junction of said arms and the arms being connected by thetransverse abutment element 15. Arm 16 includes an extension 18projecting forwardly from the transverse abutment element 15. Saidextension is formed with a longitudinal slot 19 and secured to saidextension around the margins of said slot 19 is the flattened sleeve 20.Engaged in the slot 19 and extending through the sleeve 20 is thewedge-shaped plate 21 which is provided with the threaded end stud 22 onwhich is engaged the wing nut 23, said wing nut being engageable againstthe rim of the flattened sleeve 21) to exert axial pulling force on thewedge plate 21.

The top edges of the arms 16 and 17 are formed with the serrations 24,and slidably engaged on said arms is the rectangular ring member 25whose upper portion may be tilted into locking engagement with theserrations 24, in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 4. Connecting thebottom portion of the ring member 25 and the upper edge of the U-bend 13is the coiled spring 26 which 2,710,520 Patented June 14,1955

biases the ring member 25 into the aforesaid tilted locking engagementwith the ratchet teeth 24.

The ring member 25 is formed with the upstanding lug portions 28, 28,and pivoted thereto at 29 is an elongated lever 30, said lever beingformed with the parallel arms 31, 31 which are disposed on oppositesides of the lugs 28, 28, whereby the pivotal connection 29 may be madeby means of a transverse pin or rivet. Designated at 32 is a hook memberwhich is received at oneend between the arms 31, 31 and is pivotallyconnected to the lever member by a transverse rivet or pin 33 extendingthrough the arms 31, 31 and the end of the hook member 32, as shown inFigures 2 and 4, the transverse pin 33 being located above and spaced ashort distance from the pivotal connection 29. The hook bar 32 is formedat its end with the hook 34 which is arranged to engage inside a chainlink 35 in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 4.

A first rectangular link 36, adjacent to the rectangular link 35 to bepulled is first positioned between the wedge plate 21 and the transverseabutment element 15 and is rigidly clamped in this position bytightening the wing nut 23. The ring member 25 is manually moved to anadvanced position on the arms 16 and 17 at which the hook element 34 ofbook bar 32 may be engaged with the side arm of the link 35, and thering 25 is allowed to lock itself by the action of the spring 26. Thelink 35 is of course arranged in the manner shown in Figure 4,

- wherein it is angled with respect to the clamped link 36 in such amanner as to allow it to be pulled laterally from pivotal engagementwith said clamped link 36, the plane of the side arms of the link beinginclined so as to pass through the open portion of the pivot hook 37 ofthe clamped link 36. With the link 35 in this position, and engaged bythe hook bar 32, the lever 30 is rotated toward the main bar member 12,as by exerting squeezing pressure on the lever and main bar member. Thisproduces a high degree of tension in the hook bar 32, causing the link35 to be moved laterally out of engagement with the hook 37 of theclamped link 36. The position of the ring 25 may be adjusted as requiredduring the process of separating the links, the ring 25 being in eachcase locked in adjusted position by the tilting action produced byspring 26, whereby the ring 25 is biased to a locked stationary positionon the main bar member 12. It will be apparent furthermore that the ring25 will be pulled back by the force exerted by spring 26, causing theupward movement of the lever 30 relative to the main bar member 12following each squeezing movement of the lever toward the main barmember, whereby the ring member 25 will be automatically retracted bythe spring 26 and moved into proper position for the next squeezingstroke by merely releasing the lever 30 after each squeezing strokeexerted on the lever. The spring 26 tends to move the ring 25 rearwardlytoward the U-bend 13 so that after each squeezing stroke of the lever 30the lever is automatically elevated to its starting position by thetension exerted by spring 26 and the rearward movement of the ring 25produced by said spring, as well as the engagement of the hook 34 withthe side arm of the link 35 being pulled. It will thus be apparent thatthe ring 25 is automatically adjusted to a proper position on the arms16 and 17 after each squeezing stroke of the lever 39 and is locked insaid position during the subsequent squeezing stroke by the engagementof the top portion of the ring 25 with the ratchet teeth 24.

While a specific embodiment of an improved link pulling device forseparating chain links of a rectangular type has been disclosed in theforegoing description, it will be understood that various modificationswithin the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in theart. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on theinvention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

- l. A link pulling device for separating chain links of the rectangulartype comprising a main bar member, abutment means on said main barmember intermediate the ends thereof, an adjustable wedge-shapedclamping member slidably received in one end of said main bar memberadjacent said abutment means, and screwthreaded means for adjusting saidclamping member to exert clamping force on a first link positionedbetween said clamping member and said abutment means, a ring membertiltably and slidably mounted on the other end of said main bar member,interengaging means on said main bar member and said ring member forlocking said ring member to said main bar member responsive to tiltingof said ring member on said main bar member, a lever pivoted to saidring member, spring means connected to the ring member and to said mainbar member and biasing said ring member into tilted locking engagement,and a hook pivotally connected to said lever at a location spaced fromthe pivotal connection of the lever to the ring member, said hook beingarranged to engage a second link and to pull said second link laterallyaway from said first link responsive to rotation of said lever towardsaid main bar member.

t 2, A link pulling device for separating chain links of the rectangulartype comprising a main bar member, abutment means extending at rightangles to a face of said main bar member intermediate the ends thereof,

ment means, and screw threaded means for adjusting said clamping meansto exert clamping force on a first link positioned between said clampingmember and said abutment means, a ring member slidably mounted on saidmain bar member, serrations on said main bar member, an abutment on saidring member arranged to lockingly engage the serrations on said main barmember responsive to tilting of said ring member on said main barmember, a lever pivoted to said ring member, spring means connected tothe ring member and said main bar member and biasing said ring memberinto tilted locking engagement with said serrations, and a hookpivotally connected to said lever at a location spaced from the pivotalconnection of the lever to the ring member, said hook being arranged toengage a second link and to pull said second link laterally away fromsaid first link responsive to rotation of said lever toward said mainbar member, said hook memberbeing movable in a plane parallel to saidface of said bar member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS277,894 Flynn May 22, 1883 1,563,840 Dirks Dec. 1, 1925 1,696,578Lippert Dec. 25, 1928 1,781,940 Anderson Nov. 18, 1930 2,362,495Mayberry Nov. 14, 1944 2,379,001 Hage June 26, 1945

